Ashley & Ben || The Center Cincinnati

The Proposal of Ashley & Ben

Ashley and Ben actually went to the same high school. Still, it was when they reconnected in college through some mutual friends at the University of Cincinnati that they started hanging out. It all began when Ben invited Ashley to a fraternity party. For the next five months, he continued to take her as his date to other fraternity events before finally asking her to be his girlfriend (about time, Ben!). They dated for over four years, and just a few months ago, in April 2021, Ben proposed to Ashley at The Biltmore in Asheville, NC. He told Ashley that they were going to the Biltmore Lagoon before their tour, and when they got there, Ben surprised her and proposed! He even hired a photographer to capture the moment for them. Afterward, Ashley and Ben continued their tour of the Biltmore, did a chocolate and wine pairing (yum!), and enjoyed a lovely dinner. It was such a fantastic and memorable day for both of them!

The Wedding of Ashley & Ben

The day was filled with love and excitement as Ashley and her parents exchanged heartfelt gifts and letters. It was a beautiful moment for Ashley, as an only child, to share such a special moment with them. Then, Ashley’s bridesmaids arrived at The Center bridal suite, where they spent the morning getting ready, reminiscing about the good old days back in high school and grade school. They even surprised Ashley with a scrapbook of photos and letters they had written just for her! The morning was so much fun, with everyone getting dolled up, listening to throwback music, snacking, and having a blast. Ashley’s mom and Aunt were there to help her into her dress, and then she did a bridesmaid reveal and a first look with her dad. Ben & Ashley chose not to see each other until the altar, so she took photos with her bridesmaids and parents at P&G Gardens in downtown Cincinnati before the ceremony. The ceremony was held at St. Cecilia Church in Oakley, and it was a very emotional moment for Ashley as she walked down the aisle and saw her (now) husband for the first time that day. They had a 30-minute Catholic ceremony and then took photos at the altar and outside the church before heading to the reception at The Center. One of Ashley’s favorite memories was being on the party bus with all their friends on the way to the reception. Everyone was so full of energy, and they were all so happy for Ashley and Ben. They all sang and danced to their favorite songs, and it was a great way to have some fun with their close friends before entering the reception. Ashley and Ben had 200 guests at their wedding, and they wanted this part of the night to feel like a big party. After dancing the night away, Ben and Ashley had a private last dance, which was really special, while the guests lined up for their indoor glow stick sparkler exit. It was such a magical day, having all their family and friends in one place, celebrating Ashley and Ben’s love. The day could not have been more perfect!

Ashley’s Bridal & Formal Experience

Wow, dress shopping was quite an adventure for me! I had no clue what dress I wanted, so I visited five bridal shops and tried on over 50 dresses before finally arriving at Bridal and Formal. By then, I had a better idea of what I was looking for, but I had yet to find THE dress with everything I wanted. Luckily, my bridal consultant, Jen, was terrific! She kept bringing in better options than the previous ones, and I was blown away by the extensive inventory at Bridal & Formal.
I had a favorite dress at my first appointment, but I wanted to sleep on it before making such a big decision. So, I made a follow-up appointment to come back and buy that dress. The day I returned, I was still nervous and wanted to try on just one more dress similar to the one I was trying to buy to be sure of my decision. And guess what? A new collection had just arrived at the store! Jen told me about a dress she thought would be perfect, and I’m so glad she did. When I tried it on, I immediately fell in love with it and knew it was the one. I bought that dress, which was perfect for my wedding day.
I have to say that Jen was fantastic! I knew her from doing drama together in high school, but I had no idea she worked at Bridal & Formal. Jen listened to what I wanted and offered me many great options. She also told me about the new collection and ultimately helped me find my dream dress! If you’re ever looking for a wedding dress, I highly recommend Bridal and Formal, and make sure to ask for Jen!